*Business-as-Usual assumes no intervention is made in relation to current plastic-related policy, economics, infrastructure, or materials, and that cultural norms and consumer behaviors do not change.
Citation formats
Managed and mismanaged plastic waste worldwide 2016-2040
Globally, an estimated *** million metric tons of plastic waste was recycled, landfilled, incinerated, or converted to energy in 2016. The remaining ** percent of plastic waste generated worldwide was mismanaged, and often leaked into oceans. By 2040, mismanaged plastic waste is projected to almost triple to *** million metric tons.
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Pew Charitable Trusts. (October 23, 2020). Volume of plastic waste managed and mismanaged worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from /statistics/1270110/plastic-waste-management-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. "Volume of plastic waste managed and mismanaged worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario (in million metric tons)." Chart. October 23, 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 23, 2026. /statistics/1270110/plastic-waste-management-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. (2020). Volume of plastic waste managed and mismanaged worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario (in million metric tons). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 23, 2026. /statistics/1270110/plastic-waste-management-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. "Volume of Plastic Waste Managed and Mismanaged Worldwide in 2016 with a Forecast to 2040 under Business-as-usual Scenario (in Million Metric Tons)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Oct 2020, /statistics/1270110/plastic-waste-management-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts, Volume of plastic waste managed and mismanaged worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario (in million metric tons) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1270110/plastic-waste-management-projections-worldwide/ (last visited July 23, 2026)
Volume of plastic waste managed and mismanaged worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario (in million metric tons) [Graph], Pew Charitable Trusts, October 23, 2020. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1270110/plastic-waste-management-projections-worldwide/
